Paul McCartney to Receive France’s Legion of Honor

Here at Ultimate Classic Rock we always root for the underdog, and we love it when artists who have gone under-appreciated for years finally get their due, especially when it occurs in their lifetime. Today we learned of one such case when we saw the news that the French government has awarded the Legion of Honor to a little-known singer from Liverpool, England, Sir Paul McCartney.

The Legion of Honor was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte as a way of honoring merit among civilians and soldiers. It is the highest honor that can be given by the French. There are five degrees of the award. McCartney has been named an Officer, which is the second degree and symbolized by a badge attached to a red ribbon that is worn on the left breast. The ceremony will take place Sept. 8.

The former Beatle will be able to place the ribbon on his mantle along with his dozens of gold and platinum records, 15 Grammy awards, 7 BRIT awards, honorary degrees from Yale University and the Royal Academy of Music, Kennedy Center Honors and the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize. McCartney was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Other well-known musicians to have earned the Legion of Honor include jazz legend Miles Davis, Ravi Shankar, Barbra Streisand and Quincy Jones.

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